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Monday, February 24, 2014

The Arbogasts are another family who happen to be both good friends and occasional clients of mine. This is a pattern I very much enjoy seeing, because it means I get to watch people grow and help them preserve those memories for themselves and their loved ones. The last time I did a photo shoot for the Arbogasts was in 2009 (that was before I even had a blog, so I can't show you how young their little ones looked!). Suffice it to say, it was time. :)

Being game for pretty much anything is a wonderful quality in people, and it's definitely a quality the Arbos posses. Therefore, despite the very chilly October weather, we headed out to a lovely spot called Steilacoom Park (which is somewhat near the Puget Sound) for our session. I'm happy to report that they did an expert job of putting smiles on their faces in spite of the cold! In fact, we traipsed all around the park: from old barns with farming equipment to a grassy meadow, and they were very good sports for all of it.

Take a look at the sampling of their shots below and see what I mean!

This tree was meant to be a bench, I think!

One of my favorites... the squish-and-smile shot!

I love the way the branches frame their daughter in this one, and the way her feet are crossed on the branch.

The Mom-and-Dad shot! :)

As some of you parents might imagine, this sweet pose quickly turned into a headlock...

A little bit of self-conscious body language goes a long way in a photo, and it can make for a very endearing shot! ;)

Don't you love all that structure and texture? Very manly, indeed.

What is it that's so perfect about a red and white painted barn? (And of course, a happy family standing in front of it!)

Can you intuit some family dynamics from this one? ;)

I really like the combination of a posed portrait and candid expressions. Just wait long enough and they're sure to show up...

Notice the theme with the brother/ sister shots... Ha!

Well, there you have it! I sure am blessed to have such fun friends and clients. I hope you're all enjoying this fall photo recap I'm doing. Better late than never, I say!

Last fall, my good friends the Millers and I headed out to a cozy blueberry-farm-turned-public-park on a sunny afternoon for some family portraits. We had the simplest of props, adorable wardrobe pieces, and an unlimited supply of fresh blueberries to feed the kids (mine included) in case the afternoon crabbies set in. The Millers are very good friends of mine, and I always love to photograph my friends. The photos are that much more genuine because I know them so well, and the process of doing the shoot actually helps me get to know them even better. It's a win-win. In the case of this session, all of these things were true, and the photos turned out even better than I pictured them in my mind. It was wonderful, and turned out to be probably one of my favorite shoots of all time.

One unique piece of this shoot for my work so far was the use of the wrap. The Millers are quite the babywearing aficionados, and (naturally) they wanted their photos to reflect this part of their lives, so I was all for it. But even after scouring the web for examples of babywearing portraits, I didn't find much, and I didn't find any that I really liked, so I approached this aspect of the shoot with cautious optimism. As it turned out, I love the way the wrap features in the shots. It looks totally natural, fits with their posing, and brings a certain closeness to their portraits that I really like.

I could say many other glowing things about this family and this session, but you should just scroll down and take a peek for yourself!

Baby in a box! This is one of my favorites.

I couldn't have asked for better lighting!

I always love to focus on the love between a mom and dad, since it is foundational to the whole family unit. See? Poses aren't just a stuffy old framework, they really say something if you use them right!

Again, something new for me in this shoot: incorporating a tattoo and a baby in the same close shot! This was a very special one for the family, and I was glad to capture it for them. I think it turned out really well, and I've never seen one like it!

What a little starlet. :)

Don't you just love the rainbow lens flare falling on their little one?

Oh, the way of a dad with his daughter. Such a special thing!

Well, I hope you loved the Miller family's session wrap-up as much as I have. It's a blessing to know these folks and I look forward to many happy years of photographing them in the future!

P.S. If this lovely family seems familiar to you, it might be because you recognize them from past blog posts. You may want to also check out the baptism shoot, newborn shoot, and maternity session I did for them. Enjoy!

Thursday, February 20, 2014

It's hard to believe that my sweet girl turned a year old almost 6 months ago now. She is such a blessing in our lives, and my goal in doing this portrait session for her was to capture the essence of her budding personality; that very personality which makes us feel so blessed to call her our little girl.

On the actual day of her birthday, I decided to take a gamble on the slightly chilly fall weather and put her in this adorable, puffy, sleeveless dress (one that I'd had set aside for just this occasion) and hope she didn't get too cold. I had a cute striped cardigan for her just in case, and it did end up being helpful toward the end of the shoot. Our location was none other than our own small orchard in the backyard, and we used her favorite doll for a prop. Nora has grown very fond of this little friend, and she was delighted to have her join in the photo shoot fun. All that was left was to choose a magical time of day (the "golden hour" as it is called), and to hope for the best mood from my little birthday girl. As you'll see here, I struck it rich with this session, and I treasure these photos. I hope you enjoy them as well!

Two little friends in the afternoon sunlight. :)

That dimple!

She doesn't have much hair to speak of yet... but I think it's obvious that she wants some...

Such a funny little half-smile. I love her facial expressions.

She looks just like her Daddy in this picture, and of course, I love that he's helping her walk through the orchard.

Daddy gives his girl a lift.

Nora-Bear loves her Daddy!

I wasn't expecting to be in the shoot, but I couldn't help keeping this photo. It's like it's right out of "The Secret Garden."

Oh my... those eyes!

How could I resist?

I don't think you can ever go wrong with a little girl in a puffy taffeta dress.

Not that my daughter is a bull, but this one reminds me of the story of Ferdinand the Bull, sniffing that tiny little flower...

And there you have it- arguably my favorite shoot ever. Of course, I am biased. ;)

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

With the bitter winter weather we're having this February, I find it hard to even remember what June felt like. But these photos do a good job of bringing it all back to me. Last June, on one warm, breezy, sunny day, my daughter and I were playing outside on a blanket when Daddy came home from work. As always, our little girl was elated to have him home, and I happened to have my camera handy, so I seized the opportunity for an impromptu Father's Day shoot. I loved the outcome so much that I'll have to make this a tradition! Take a look at the shots I came away with and see for yourself... :)

My little blue-eyed beauty before Daddy got home.

Daddy's home! Can't you just see the love in her eyes?

I love her somewhat possessive hand on his hand, as if to say, "I've got him; he's all mine!"

Oh, this girl sure has a way with her Daddy! I hope you enjoyed those as much as I did. Stay tuned for more long-overdue session wraps!~ Kathryn

About Me

Hi, I'm Kathryn, the owner of Camellia Images and the smitten Mama of Milo, my brainy boy, and Enora, my smiley girl. Before they came along, Camellia Images was my baby. Now that I have two real babies, I have the honor of caring for all three- that's where the fun begins!
Join me as I photograph kids and families- both my own, and others'! I'm honored to capture the memories, joys, and milestones of families big and small.

So, you want to know more about Camellia Images?

I started Camellia Images in honor of my Grandmother, Camille, a small-time poet and entrepreneur in the 1950’s and 60’s. Even though she lived in the bustling heart of Southern California, her art reflected the earthy wisdom of the central plains of her youth. She pursued her dream with strength and diligence, and left behind much more than just a handful of beautiful poems. It is my goal today to carry on that tradition of creative vision and persistence through photography in all its forms. Through Camellia Images, I provide professional photography services as beautiful as they are memorable at a cost that's fair and affordable. My photos don’t just document a day in history, but reflect the style and personality of my clients.